तपसो यः प्रभावेन वर्षयामास वासवम्। अनावृष्ठ्यां भयाद्यस्य ववर्ष बलवृत्रहा
By the power of his austerity, he caused Indra to bring rain; out of fear of drought, the mighty slayer of Vritra poured down rain.
मृग्यां जातः स तेजस्वी काश्यपस्य सुतः प्रभुः। विषये लोमपादस्य यश्चकाराद्भुतं महत्
Born among deer, that radiant son of Kasyapa, the lord, performed a great wonder in the realm of Lomapada.
निर्वर्तितेषु सस्येषु यस्मै शान्तां ददौ नृपः। लोमपादो दुहितरं सावित्रीं सविता यथा
When the crops were produced, King Lomapada gave him Shanta, his daughter, just as Savita gave Savitri.
ऋश्यशृङ्गः कथं मृग्यामुत्पन्नः काश्यपात्मजः। विरुद्धयोनिसंसर्गः कथं च तपसा युतः
How was Rishyasringa, son of Kasyapa, born among deer? How did he, though of contrary birth, become endowed with austerity?
किमर्थं च भयाच्छक्रस्तस्य बालस्य धीमतः। अनावृष्ट्यां प्रवृत्तायां ववर्ष बलवृत्रहा
For what reason did Indra, out of fear, cause rain during the drought for that wise child, the mighty slayer of Vritra?
कथंरूपा च सा शान्ता राजपुत्री पतिव्रता। लोभयामास या चेतो मृगभूस्य तस्य वै
What was the nature of Shanta, the royal daughter and devoted wife, who enticed the mind of one born among deer?
लोमपादश्च राजर्षिर्यदाऽश्रूयत धार्मिकः। कथं वै विषये तस्य नावर्षत्पाकशासनः
And how did Lomapada, the righteous royal sage, come to hear that in his realm the lord of heaven withheld rain?
एतन्मे भगवन्सर्वं विस्तरेण यथातथम्। वक्तुमर्हसि शुश्रूषोर्ऋश्यशृङ्गस् चेष्टितम्
O venerable one, please tell me all this in detail and truthfully, for I am eager to hear of the deeds of Rishyasringa.
विभाण्डकस्य ब्रह्मर्षेस्तपसा भावितात्मनः। अमोघवीर्यस्य सतः प्रजापतिसमद्युतेः
Of Vibhāṇḍaka, the Brahmin sage, whose soul was purified by austerity, whose power was unfailing, and who shone with the brilliance of Prajāpati—
शृणु पुत्रो यथा जात ऋश्यशृङ्गः प्रतापवान्। महाह्रदे महातेजा बालः स्थविरसंभतः
Hear, O son, how Ṛśyaśṛṅga, endowed with great energy, was born in a great lake, radiant in power, a child raised by an elder.
महाह्रदं समासाद्य काश्यपस्तपसि स्थितः। दीर्घकालं रिश्रान्त ऋषिर्देवर्षिसंमितः
Having reached a great lake, the sage of the Kāśyapa line, steadfast in austerity, remained there for a long time, tireless, a seer esteemed as equal to the divine sages.
तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द दृष्ट्वाऽप्सरसमुर्वशीम्। अप्सूपस्पृशतो राजन्मृगी तच्चापिबत्तदा। सह तोयेन तृषिता गर्भिणी चाभवत्ततः
There, his seed was released when he beheld the apsaras Urvaśī, O King, as he touched the water; a doe, thirsty, drank that water, and thus became pregnant.
सा पुरोक्ता भगवता ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा। देवकन्या मृगी भूत्वा मुनिं सूय विमोक्ष्यसे
That celestial maiden, having been told beforehand by the blessed Brahmā, creator of the worlds, 'You will be born as a doe and release the sage’s offspring.'
अमोघत्वाद्विधेश्चैव भावित्वाद्दैवनिर्मितात्। तस्यां मृग्यां समभवत्तस्व पुत्रो महानृषिः। ऋश्यशृङ्गस्तपोनित्यो वन एवाभ्यवर्धत
Because of the infallibility of fate, and since she was divinely fashioned, from that doe was born a great sage, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, ever devoted to austerity, who grew up in the forest.
तस्य शृङ्गं शिरसि वै राजन्नासीन्महात्मनः। तेनर्श्यशृङ्ग इत्येवं तदा स प्रथितोऽभवत्
On his head, O King, there was a horn; thus, he became known as Ṛśyaśṛṅga, and by that name he was renowned.
न तेन दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः पितुरन्यत्रमानुषः। तस्मात्तस्य मनो नित्यं ब्रह्मचर्येऽभवन्नृप
He had never seen any human other than his father; therefore, his mind was always fixed on celibacy, O King.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सखा दशरशस्य वै। कलोमपाद इतिख्यातो ह्यङ्गानामीश्वरोऽभवत्
At that very time, the friend of Daśaratha, known as Kalmaṣapāda, became the ruler of the Aṅgas.
तेन कामः कृतो मिथ्या ब्राह्मणेभ्य इति श्रुतिः। `दैवोपहतसत्त्वेन धर्मज्ञेनापि भारत'। स ब्राह्मणैः परित्यक्तस्तदा भरतसत्तम
It is heard that, under the influence of fate, though he knew righteousness, he committed a wrongful act against the Brāhmaṇas; thus, he was abandoned by them, O best of the Bharatas.
पुरोहितापचाराच्च तस्य राज्ञो यदच्छया। न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षस्ततोऽपीड्यन्त वै प्रजाः
Because of the king’s offense against his priest, O King, Indra withheld the rain, and the people suffered greatly.
स ब्राह्मणान्पर्यपृच्छत्तपोयुक्तान्मनीषिणः। प्रवर्षणे सुरेन्द्रस्य समर्थान्पृथिवीपते
Then the king questioned the Brāhmaṇas, who were engaged in austerities and wise, asking those capable of bringing rain from the lord of the gods.
कथं प्रवर्षेत्पर्जन्य उपायः परिमृश्यताम्। तमूचुश्चोदितास्ते तु स्वमतानि मनीषिणः
'How might the clouds bring rain? Let a method be considered.' Thus urged, the wise men spoke their opinions.
तत्र त्वेको रमुनिवरस्तं राजानमुवाच ह। कुपितास्तव राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणा निष्कृतिं चर
Then, among them, one eminent sage said to the king, 'O king of kings, the Brāhmaṇas are angry with you; perform atonement.'
ऋश्यशृङ्गं मुनिसुतमानयस्व च पार्थिव। ऐणेयमनभिज्ञं च नारीणामार्जवे रतम्
'Bring Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the sage’s son, O ruler, the one with antelope features, unacquainted with women, devoted to innocence.'
स चेदवतरेद्राजन्विषयं ते महातपाः। सद्यः प्रवर्षेत्पर्जन्य इति मे नास्ति संशयः
'If that great ascetic enters your realm, O King, the clouds will immediately bring rain—of this I have no doubt.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राजन्कृत्वा निष्कृतिमात्मनः। स गत्वा पुनरागच्छत्प्रसन्नेषु द्विजातिषु
Hearing these words, the king performed atonement for himself, and, having gone, returned once more when the Brāhmaṇas were appeased.
राजानमागतं ज्ञात्वा प्रतिसंजगृहुः प्रजाः। `स च ता प्रतिजग्राह पितेव हितकृत्सदा
When the people learned that the king had returned, they welcomed him; and he, in turn, accepted them, always acting for their welfare like a father.
ततोऽङ्गपतिराहूय सचिवान्मन्त्रकोविदान्। ऋश्यशृङ्गागमे यत्नमकरोन्मन्त्रनिश्चये
Then the lord of Anga summoned his ministers, skilled in counsel, and made every effort to determine the proper course upon the arrival of Rishyasringa.
सोऽध्यगच्छदुपायं तु तैरमात्यैः सहाच्युतः। शास्त्रज्ञैरलमर्थज्ञौर्नीत्यां च परिनिष्ठितैः
He, accompanied by those wise and accomplished ministers—versed in scripture, well-versed in matters, and firmly established in policy—found a means.
ततश्चानाययामास वारमुख्या महीपतिः। वेश्याः सर्वत्रनिष्णातास्ता उवाच स पार्थिवः
Afterwards, the king brought together the chief courtesans, all thoroughly skilled, and addressed them.
ऋश्यशृङ्गमृषेः पुत्रमानयध्वमुपायतः। लोभयित्वाऽभिविश्चास्य विषयं मम शोभनाः
Bring the son of the sage Rishyasringa here by some means; entice him, and show him the delights of my realm.